"I thought the others would go for it today" - Jonas Vingegaard surprised by GC neutrality on stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana

The breakaway took the win on stage 11 of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, with Jesus Herrada emerging victorious. Nearly six minutes behind the stage winner, the GC group rolled home together.

This lack of action in the Red Jersey group came as something of a surprise to Jumbo-Visma's Jonas Vingegaard. "To be honest, I thought the others would go for it today,” the two-time winner of the Tour de France revealed post-stage. "That is their choice and their tactics. We have no influence on that."

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With Vingegaard's Jumbo-Visma teammate Sepp Kuss currently sitting pretty in the race lead, the onus is on the likes of Remco Evenepoel's Soudal- Quick-Step and the UAE Team Emirates trio of Marc Soler, Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso to push the pressure. “We didn't want to go for it, so it was fine for us. We are in great shape with this situation," continues Vingegaard. "Every day we get through this way is good for us.”

“I think the pace was high on the climb, but it wasn't too difficult, and nobody wanted to go for it. We will have to wait until Friday, then we will see how we are doing," he concludes, referencing his own personal goal for the remainder of the race. “Primož and Sepp have both already won a stage and I hope I can add one to that as well. But as long as we have the red jersey, everything is good for us.”

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